The Rams have a new edge to them, in more ways than one.
Fordham (3-2), under first-year head coach Joe Moorhead, already has eclipsed its win total from last year and is looking to remain unbeaten at Rose Hill when the Rams host Georgetown (3-2) today at 1 p.m.
When the Rams run onto Jack Coffey Field, one of the team’s captains will be carrying a maroon-handled ax and drive it deep into a wooden stump decorated with a Hoyas logo.
“It’s something that Coach Moorhead came up with and it’s derived from a quote from Abraham Lincoln,” Fordham senior linebacker Mike Martin told The Post. “The quote is, ‘If you give me six hours to chop down a tree, I’ll spend the first five sharpening the ax.’ That’s what we go through leading up to every game, the practice and preparation, sharpening the ax, and Saturday is when we chop the tree down by going out and winning the games.”
Martin first started the new tradition before the Rams’ 34-27 victory over Cornell during homecoming weekend and the pregame ritual has stuck, following the team on the road to Columbia and Lehigh.
“A lot of teams have their own traditions, and now we feel like this is our thing,” Martin said. “We’re going to chop that wood, start the game and be ready to go. It adds another level of excitement and anticipation to the games on Saturdays.”
For Fordham, the ax serves as a reminder of the week of practice that has taken place before game day and represents the new mentality Moorhead has brought to the team in year one.
“It gives them something to see,” Moorhead said. “Motivation is also part of our job as a coaching staff. If we can find new and creative ways to create a concept that the kids can rally around, they find it exciting and like it, we’ll utilize it.”
In addition to serving as a motivator for the Rams, seeing the team taking the field with an axe raised high also affects their opponents, regardless of who it is.
“There’s always a mental factor and an intimidation factor,” Martin said. “We walk out with the axe raised high, it adds a little swagger. We’re saying we’re here to take care of our business no matter who the opponent is.”
The Rams shouldn’t need any extra motivation or swagger coming off their 34-31 loss to Lehigh (5-0), one of the best FCS schools in the country.
“We have a little grudge now after losing the worst way you can in football, in my opinion,” Martin said. “We understand what we have to do this week.”